What goes up…

There are many things I didn’t expect when I took this job, and the general manager’s annual holiday descent is one of them. But, here I am, on my way out the door to once again watch Brian Cashman rappel down a building.

This morning’s practice session — the main event is this weekend — took an interesting twist last night. No longer is Cashman going to going through a few practice runs and then talk about the predictable signings of Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera. Now Cashman is going to be asked a lot of questions the guy he didn’t sign.

Russell Martin is heading to Pittsburgh for an unlikely reunion with A.J. Burnett.

The Yankees are now without an everyday catcher and without a clear path to find a replacement.

It’s kind of a what goes up, must come down situation. Finding a catcher is inevitable for the Yankees. One way or another, they’re going to pick someone to put behind the plate on Opening Day, and that decision will be one of Cashman’s pivotal moves of the winter.